Ecconomical "sporty" cars

tbourner

TVR2 wrote: »

Though a good car, the 4 cylinder engines are not fast and the V6 is too guzzly (and still not that fast actually...)

I know, as said in my post I'm guessing the OP isn't worried about performance and is more concerned about price and reliability, with the LOOKS of a sports car. Hence; the Hyundai Coupe is perfect in all respects.

TVR2

tbourner wrote: »

I know, as said in my post I'm guessing the OP isn't worried about performance and is more concerned about price and reliability, with the LOOKS of a sports car. Hence; the Hyundai Coupe is perfect in all respects.

Fair enough. On that train of thought, I'd recommend a Peugeot 406 Coupe 2.2 HDi. Still beautiful beyond words from some angles and later cars were pretty well built and very well appointed. Handling is keen and pointy (classic Peugeot), though it certainly is more of a GT than an out and out sports car (with a torquey engine that doesn't rev it could never be classed a 'sports' car proper).

nmonline

Trouble is, however economical a car may be if you're after something sporty, you are likely to succumb to the temptation of driving it in a sporty fashion - hence ruining your economy! Prime example - someone mentioned the BMW 335d, which I was lucky enough to have in 2007. It was indeed rapid, and economical, but never at the same time!!

B00st

Something totally left field how about the Lotus Elise. Proper sports car and fun to drive, plus out handles most things out there.

Prices of S1s have plateaued and look set to increase so that's the depreciation taken care of, and easily capable of 40-45mpg even when driven quickly. A friend used to manage over 50mpg on the cruise from Bristol to London to visit the gf.

Servicing isn't prohibitive, just find a decent specialist and then there is just the insurance to consider.

almillar

Elise is definitely economical, but pretty impractical as a daily driver. I needed to put my hand on the ground to get out, wouldn't like to do that everywhere.
Hyundai Coupe is a good call to look at. 406 coupe, only if you're willing to put up with a 406 interior, but nice driving cars, and can't you get a Ferrari body kit for it?!
I think we've established that you're not going to get something that's as economical or practical as a diesel Focus. But that's not what the OP is after.

Eric_Pisch

MX5's are a hoot

our MR2 roadster avgs 42-44mpg and when released was beating even the elise in group tests by TG etc, very go kart like point and squirt

Lum

tbourner wrote: »

Cheap, Fast, Reliable.
Pick two.

If it has a rotary engine, pick one.

If it has a K series engine, pick one of the first two.



how about an LPG converted Nissan 200SX? Ours is cheaper to run than my diesel Mondeo. The conversion is only worth it if you're doing high miles though.

radion_auto

I drive an MG ZR diesel - despite the comments above suggesting that diesels cannot be sporty, i actually disagree. I think having a small light car that handles well, combined with a huge thump of torque is very sporty indeed. The car is still and flies around corners.

It will also do 50mpg day-in-day-out regardless of how you drive it.

Buy one for little over £1k.

poppasmurf_bewdley

Ask Ford to bring back a modern version of the Capri.

Now that would be popular.

JQ.

THIS THREAD IS 18 MONTHS OLD, I suspect the OP has bought a car by now.